I was told my trans fluid is really dark & I need to flush it shoud i?

if they recommended you change it then go out and look at it yourself. i suggest changing it. better safe then sorry when dealing with your tranny

It's my understanding that the transmission fluids in the newer Mazdas aren't meant to be changed for an extremely long period of time. 150,000mi sticks in my head for some reasons, but I'm not sure, check your owners manual for the recommended interval. Truth be told color and look are not a proper way to determine if a fluid is worn... smell can be but the only true way is with an oil analysis. Stick to the manufactures recommendation or send a sample out to be tested. The color change in tranny fluids is usually the dye breaking down which has nothing to do with fluid performance. (On a side note it is illegal in some states to recommend a fluid change based on a visual inspection Basically it boils down to CHECK YOUR MANUAL for the recommend intervals, if your near it, then go ahead. But if your half way there, forget it or get an accurate analysis done.

you have to agree though that a bronze "burnt" color is a good indicator that the fluid should be changed though. also, by visual inspection you can sometimes find shavings of small metal pieces in the fluid and it should also be changed then. i mean a tranny rebuild is thousands of dollars. a flush is a hundred dollars. if the color is off then just drop the cash.

I've changed fluid where the dye burnt within a month though, seeing metal shavings is one thing but color is not a good indication in the slightest. At best the color would tell you to smell it but color alone is not a good indication in my experience. Like I said, if my memory serves, this is less than halfway to the change interval. I doubt the fluid has broken down but I'd be willing to bet the dye is just past it's prime.

thats odd. ive never seen the dye burn but not hav fluid problems. thats just my experience though. mine is still the same color as it was in 05. my 89 camaro had th fluid flushed when i bought it just for good measure and i beat that car and the tranny fluid still remained the same. i always jsut thought better safe than sorry myself. 150,000 miles is really high though. my cars always got way before that period,

CHANGE IT! When a manufactuer claims you dont need new fluid for extended periods, they are not taking into account contaiminates and how hard you drive. Its better to pay for a flush than replace a tranny. If you drive in city type/rush hour traffic, CHANGE IT W/O HESITATION! I would change it every 50k or so, with my driving habits. I've flushed AND replaced trannies(myself) and would much rather perform a flush instead of R&R.

Just so you guys no it was not a mazda dealer telling me to flush it was a oil station and it smells fine.Does it hurt to do it?

Check with your owners manual and what is suggested. Waiting too long to change the fluid will lead into more problems such as hard shifting and/or slipping. If you don't change the fluid as normal, you will lead into major problems. For an example, if you waited until 150,000 + to change the fluid for the first time you might run into problems as I have seen. Since the fluid is so dirty the dirty fluid may be helping from slipping, then when changed it will start to slip within 1,000 miles or so. Its very critical to change it on time. Also getting to filter changed along with 100% fluid exchanged (only can be done with a machine) would be the best.

thanks all of you it was helpful. I will look in my manual and propably take it to mazda thanks!

I've had transmission problems with my 2003 Mazda 6 4-cylinder transmission fluid, too. I first had to change it when I noticed hard shifting and when I checked the fluid it had turned off-color. Of course the manual says only to check it and has no recommended change mileage. When I talked to the dealership about it they said "26,000 miles? That's about right. The transmission fluid doesn't last much longer than that in those cars." So I sent an email to the Mazda corporate customer service about whether there might be something wrong with my transmission, and if not, why would it fail so soon? They replied that they are not technically trained but to rely on the dealership service mechanics. So anyway, I changed the fluid and it worked fine -- until 54,000 miles. Same scenario with hard shifting so I changed it again. And just today, I took the car to the dealership for a different problem and they said my fluid was changing color again, after only 12,000 more miles! But no hard shifting yet, so I'll wait a while longer to change it. By the way, I'm a very conservative driver.

Your tranny fluid should be bright red when new or almost new! After about 30,000 or so miles it begins to get dirty and may need replacing if it is brown and definitely if it turns BLACK! By then you have probably damaged the tranny and it might not shift smoothly, if at all! Also the tranny will run hot and may overheat causing the failure of some internal part(s).

To say colour is not an indicator is ridiculous. When transmission fluid changes colour it is because there is debris, however small, that is contaminating the fluid. take a drop of dirty fluid and put it on a light surfce and you will see the particles. like dust or dirt. These particles are worn off material from your clutches and bands etc. they eventually plug up the passeges in your transmission causing poor shifting and ultimately failure. I agree factory intervals are the best way to service your transmission, but if you are between service intervals and have dirty fluid. Don't be pennywise an piund foolish. Change the dang oil.

Extended Transmission services are a function of marketing, cost of ownership. The manufacturer is protected since the advise you to inspect it. Once it fails your beyond warranty and then the burden is on you and the inspecting business, most often the dealer. Whom is also influenced not to service your Transmission. Quite a brilliant plan.... don’t you agree?